Ziigaat Odyssey VS Kiwi Ears Septet

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Single-DD + 3BA hybrid with a clean, confident look: thick shell, metal nozzle that grips tips well, visible rear vent, and the preferable flat 2-pin connector. The standard Ziigaat case feels premium if a bit unexciting. Sonically, Odyssey lands a balanced, tastefully energetic tuning—ample bass for most listeners, elevated upper mids for presence, and a smooth, clean upper-treble. Out of the box it sounds immediately right and counts among the better-tuned sub-$300 IEMs. The catch: macro/micro detail and imaging are good, not mind-blowing, keeping overall technical performance at “appropriate for the price.”

Within Ziigaat’s lineup, Arcadia skews darker with less treble reach, Xeno/Ceno feels a bit treble-shy, and Dinko is the more V-shaped, poppier pick with extra sub-bass. Explorer overlaps in tonality but Odyssey adds more upper-mids energy and refinement—albeit at a higher price. Among peers, AFUL’s P7 brings the stronger technicals and a slightly more neutral sheen, K4 trades blows, and “Quattro” may edge tuning purity. As an all-rounder, though, Odyssey hits a sweet spot: rich mids, fun but controlled bass, convincing note weight, and a natural stage, even if the far-upper air can temper ultimate sparkle.

Verdict: a fantastic mid-tier set with high price-to-performance, gorgeous faceplates, and a crowd-pleasing tonality; accessories are a bit underwhelming, and the top-end “air” won’t wow technicality chasers. Scored around 8.8/10 and easily recommended as a safe, musical choice—especially when discounts bring the sticker down.

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The Kiwi Ears Septet is a multi-driver oddball in the best way: a single DD + 4BA + planar + PZT hybrid with an open-back shell at $259. Build is solid with a metal body, flat 2-pin sockets and a handsome modular cable; fit is stable and isolation would be strong if it weren’t vented. It’s clearly aimed at listeners who want something different in both design and presentation.

Sonically it’s a down-tilted, slightly L-shaped tuning: deep, thumpy bass, subdued upper-mids, and a sparkly 4–6 kHz region that adds air and detail. The open structure creates a speaker-like stage—wide, clean imaging with a sense of room—but it can show a hint of hiss and benefits from more power (dongle/DAP recommended) to wake up dynamics. It’s a unique, spacious listen that some will love and others won’t; while the treble and imaging impress and it earns a recommendation (even a spot in a price-tier top 10), those wanting stronger presence in vocals may prefer Kiwi Ears’ more conventional tunings or adjacent sets like Astral or Performer series.

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Ziigaat Odyssey comes in at $230 with a four-driver hybrid (1DD + 3 BAs) that’s very easy to drive. Build is the usual Ziigaat: full 3D-printed resin shells with metal nozzles and filters; sturdy and comfortable for average-to-larger ears, while tiny ears get a technical pass. The weak spot is the accessories: a basic cable (3.5mm or 4.4 option), one set of soft silicone tips plus foams, and a leatherette case that feels flimsy—underwhelming at this price. Aesthetics score well with a sparkly faceplate that the “Council of Ladies” mostly favors, even if it doesn’t always trigger compliments.

Sonically, Odyssey aims for warm-neutral with a tasteful bass boost. Sub-bass texture can run a touch soft, but mid-bass punch is addicting, giving kick drums and bass guitars real drive without boom. Lower mids are warm and slightly veiled in a pleasant, retro-leaning way; female vocals sit a bit back yet remain clean. Treble is safe but present—enough sparkle and clarity to balance the bass without sting, though true treble-heads may want more air. Technicals are solid for the bracket: good resolution, excellent separation, precise imaging, and an average-sized but convincing stage. With a 15–30Ω adapter, the FR tilts more V-shaped (more bass/upper-mids/treble), a fun twist for occasional variety.

Against peers, Odyssey is the relaxed, safer listen: warmer and less contrasty than EPZ P50 (brighter, more vocal-forward) and Kiwi Ears K4 (more V-shaped excitement), and a middle ground between AFUL Explorer (darker, bassier) and AFUL Performer 5+2 (airier, more resolving with stronger female vocals). Not the pick for bass-heads, treble-heads, or libraries packed with K-/J-pop divas, but a killer one-and-done all-rounder for mixed libraries that value warmth, balance, and zero fatigue. Despite the skimpy pack-ins, the tuning and performance earn a spot in “this is brilliant.”

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Ziigaat Odyssey lands as a mid-range focused set with a slight treble lift that really scales with volume. At relaxed levels it’s clean, calm, and easygoing; turn it up and the presentation becomes wide, airy, and immersive with a surprisingly punchy, rumbly low end for its graph. The new topology DD hits a sweet balance—neither sluggish nor hyper-snappy—delivering well-balanced bass that serves the tuning, even if ultimate slam/texture trails sets like Hype 4 or Xenns Tea Pros. Tip rolling toward slightly brighter tips adds a touch of treble energy and liveliness without pushing fatigue.

The star here is the midrange: instruments layer neatly with comfortable separation, and vocals sit clean and natural—not shouty, not veiled—though they can feel a bit too relaxed at mid volume. Treble is smooth yet detailed, revealing cymbal micro-info and air without harshness, and it’s noticeably cleaner than Explorer while avoiding metallic timbre. Technicals are solid for the price—a step up from Explorer and just behind “contet” in raw resolving power—yet more natural in timbre and notably more musical when driven louder. The tuning flatters slow rock, acoustic, indie, alternative, and ballads, where the Odyssey’s “turn-it-up” character shines.

For alternatives: those wanting warmer, bassier impact for hip-hop, rock, or metal may prefer Kiwi Ears K4, HBB Arcadia, or the Deuce for true bass-head needs. For mid-volume all-rounders with more instant engagement and technical pop, consider Supermix 4, Nova, Quintet, or Chopin; for airier, brighter takes with sweeter female vocals, look at Cadenza 4 or CKLVX. As a package, Odyssey feels like a future classic—gorgeous plating, a cable that could use an upgrade, and a uniquely immersive, high-volume experience that invites shutting out the world and sinking into the music.

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Kiwi Ears Septet lands as an airy, spacious, and distinctly sparkly listen with a clear bright-leaning tilt that avoids harshness. Despite a notable 5–8 kHz lift, the treble comes across refined rather than peaky, while a touch of mid-bass warmth keeps the tonality musical and natural. The result is punchy drums and momentum on rock and acoustic tracks, with technicals that punch above price—layering and separation sit around Dusk/Pilgrim territory. It’s like a more airy, sparklier Meta with less forward vocals and less artificial sheen than ultra-bright sets. The “open-back” faceplate doesn’t audibly change things, but staging still feels wide.

Fit and setup matter: a deep seal smooths treble; tips like Softears Alpha Clear or Tangzu Sancai can tame peaks. The Septet scales nicely on slower tracks up to ~80 dB, but on energetic K-pop/J-pop/hip-hop it can turn hot—hi-hats may sting if the volume creeps. Comfort is solid at mid volume for hours, though sensitive ears may feel fatigue over long sessions, especially in that 5–8 kHz zone. Vocals are set back: clean and inoffensive rather than shouty, but on busy rock they can feel a touch distant. This is a treble-forward, technical presentation; not a mid-centric vocal specialist and not a bass-head set—low end is adequate but softer in impact and pushed slightly to the back.

Versus peers: Astral is the safer all-rounder with more forward vocals and less brightness; Quintet is the vocal-oriented pick, while Septet is smoother, airier, and a bit more micro-detailed. Recent Orchestra Light (unit-dependent) sounds more V-shaped and shouty; Septet takes tuning and technicals. Odyssey wins on immersion, bass texture, and vocal pop at loud volumes, but Septet brings better air, separation, and detail at normal levels. Compared with Lush, Septet is brighter and more resolving; Lush is smoother and one of the best scalers under $300 if you like it loud. For vocals first, look to EPZ P50, Cadenza 4, or Tanjim Origin; for bassier fun under $300, consider DSKO, Estrella, Deuce, or Tros. If a sparkly, airy, technical flavor that stands apart from “Harman-by-default” is appealing, Septet is a worthwhile add to the collection.